Yappies Connect 15th Nov
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Greeting from a major urban jungle in Thailand!
Seven weeks have passed since we waved goodbye to some of your friendly faces at Changi Airport on 19 September.
Since then, we have settled into our new life in Bangkok – learnt how to set up bank accounts, choose water filter system for our home, figure out which way is school and which way is the supermarket, sniff out where the cheap and good local eateries are, and try to stay “jai yen” (Thai word for ‘a cool heart’) during regular traffic crawl-jams.
With Christ Church Bangkok
We are attached to Christ Church Bangkok during our first year whilst doing our language studies. We attend the local Thai worship service. Currently, by ourselves, we understand only about 5 to 8% of the sermon! We fellowship in a Young-Families cell group that meets every Sunday after service. Thankfully for us, most of them are professionals and speak English.
Thai Language
We have just finished four weeks of Level 1 language classes and are now in the midst of Level 2. We are enjoying the learning very much although the syntax of Thai language – quite different from English – really takes some getting used to.
Things We are Learning
God is teaching us new things being in a foreign environment – about ourselves, how we react to things, about a people different from us, His heart for them, and for all peoples. Through these, the Lord is teaching us to trust more and grow in dependence on Him. We find Him faithful and have really been enjoying His Word and His Spirit accompanying us on this journey.
Our Prayer Requests
Thanksgiving
We give grateful thanks for all who are praying for and supporting us; for those who have been e-mailing, skype-ing to ask about us, or just to say you are praying for us. It really encourages us.
Friends and Relationships
This being our first few months here, honestly, we both miss having friends. It is a journey to build on and we know we need patience as we have only just started out. Please pray for opportunities to grow in our relationships with local friends especially, with the language barrier, that we would persevere in building relationships with love and sincerity.
Language and Understanding People’s Worldview
Pray for our language and cultural acquisition as we study in school and practice and integrate them in daily life with Thai people.
Serving in some Ministries in Church
Our field-supervisor has assigned us to learn in and help out in some areas of church life:
· Teach English to church youths and hopefully their non-C friends too. Intro class starts end of November 2009.
· Get to know and serve in the Young-Families cell group.
· Do regular newsletter for Anglican Church in Thailand (ACT) and for the Community Service (RCS) arm of the local church.
Pray for the Spirit’s filling and His leading us in these areas. That we would be of good help and be able to grow in understanding and relationships to serve well.
One Last Word…
We were ordering lunch at a food-court near our school. At the drinks stall, Andrew wanted plain water, “naam plaaw”, but instead he said “hong naam” (toilet) while smiling pleasantly at the drinks seller. When he didn’t get a bottle of mineral water he realized there was something wrong with what he said.